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7 Survival Tips For V Festival Goers

Festivals are the highlight of the British summer and we want you to make the most of your time without having to worry about killer hangovers, sunburnt shoulders or a dodgy tummy. RiZE Festival is a brand new music festival coming to Chelmsford's Hylands Park this August. In preperation, here are 7 tips for you to stay safe and healthy.

1. Water

Whilst watching Steroephonics, you may be susceptible to dehydration due to dancing all day and night, sunny weather and alcohol consumption. Dehydration can leave you feeling thirsty, dizzy and tired.

You can easily combat these symptoms by ensuring that you drink plenty of water and often, it will also give you more energy to party on! Keep a refillable water bottle on you to help keep yourself hydrated when on the go.

2. Heavy drinking

Many festival goers will be looking forward to enjoying a drink with friends, with many drinking more than usual, and enjoying Bastille live. When drinking large amounts in a short period you can increase your risk of accidents, misjudging risky situations and losing self-control.

We recommend drinking more slowly, drinking with food and alternating alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks. Drinking plenty of water whilst consuming alcohol will also prevent dehydration, which is what causes many symptoms of a hangover.

3. Sun safety

Don’t forget to take a hat, sunglasses and sun cream to keep you safe from the sun, and spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest. Apply sun cream regularly and use at least SPF 15 however SPF 50 will give you the best protection. Especially if you've been out head-banging to Liam Gallagher.

But don’t be tempted to leave sun essentials behind if the weather’s looking glum – you can still damage unprotected skin even when it’s cloudy!

Staying safe in the sun and drinking plenty of water will also prevent you suffering from heat exhaustion, and in severe cases heat stroke, which can put a strain on your vital organs.

4. Hypothermia

Equally, those sunny days can turn into chilly nights, so don’t forget to pack extra layers to keep you warm when out at night. Keep your tent stocked with warm, dry clothing and blankets as your tent alone may not keep you protected from the cold.

Also, don’t forget to grab those wellies and a raincoat - we all know it has the habit of raining during festival weekends. Craig David will probably bring a pair of his own!

5. Clean hands

The chance of picking up a bacterial or viral stomach bug is much higher when around larger numbers of people and using communal facilities. Washing your hands well and regularly with hot soapy water is the most effective way of preventing a stomach bug, but keep anti-bacterial gel on you to avoid being caught out.

Take plenty of your own toilet roll and wet wipes to reduce your reliance on communal items. We'll call that plan A and leave the music to Plan B.

6. Ear plugs

Listening to loud music, let's say Rag'n'Bone Man, for any length of time has the potential to damage your hearing; however wearing earplugs while listening to live music can reduce sound levels by between 15 and 35 decibels. They’re widely available at many live music events and should not spoil your enjoyment of the music.

7. The medical centre

Find where the medical centre is before you are in a situation in which you need to go. The medical centre is usually centrally located and easily identifiable; however festival stewards will help point you in the right direction.

Remember to take enough of any prescription medication you may need, as the medical centre might not be able to supply you with this.

And finally...

Make sure you look out for your friends and ensure they are also following our festival survival tips, and of course - have fun! We've named a few artists here but there are still more, so enjoy!

For more information about how to stay safe and healthy this summer, visit NHS Choices.